Emergence (Awakening Series Book 2) by Olivia Hayes

me flawlessly around the room. I loved being in his arms, and realized nothing had ever felt so right before in my life.
    After several songs, Carson led me to the side of the dance floor and pulled out a chair for me. Then he went to get me another glass of wine. Kissing me on the cheek he whispered something in my ear about the main event and wandered off toward the band.
    A moment later the band began playing the beats of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked over to see Allison Foster sit next to me. "You're going to want to watch this," she said, nodding toward the dance floor.
    Moving my eyes back to the floor I watched as Carson began to emulate Michael Jackson's dance moves. It was amazing how spot on he was, and I found myself on my feet, cheering him on, along with his mother, father, and most of the guests in attendance.
    He was incredible, thrusting his hips, spinning around, popping the collar on his jacket, his feet moon walking across the floor. I clapped and laughed along with everyone else, and when the song was over, he came straight to me, lifting me up against him.
    "You're crazy, you know that? And you were completely awesome!" I said, laughing as I kissed his sweaty forehead.
    "Too crazy for you and Carly to have dinner with me at my parents house this weekend?" he asked.
    "Just the right amount of crazy," I giggled as he pulled me back out onto the dance floor again.

Chapter 15
    Lou
    The next evening I was recounting tales of Carson's dance moves to Kelly when my phone rang. It was Carson's name on the screen.
    "Hey hot stuff, I was just talking about you!" I answered.
    "Lou, have you talked to Caroline?" he asked and my smile dropped at the tone of his voice.
    I sat up straight in my seat, clutching the phone. "She called this morning to say she was taking the day off, but I haven't heard from her since then. What's wrong?"
    Kelly picked Carly up out of my lap and I stood quickly, pacing the living room.
    "She was at my grandmother's house late this morning, and was headed back to Luke's but she never made it there. Luke found her cell in the woods and there was sign of a struggle, but no Caroline. I'm heading to Bluffton to see if I can help. My dad and Luke are organizing a search party with local law enforcement. Apparently there have been several abductions in that area recently."
    "I'm going with you. Come get me," I said without hesitation, fear prickling up my spine.
    "What about Carly?" he asked.
    I looked at Kelly, "Can you watch her overnight?"
    "Whatever you need," she responded immediately, knowing by the tone of my voice that something was really wrong.
    "Kelly's got her," I told Carson.
    "Okay, I'll see you in about ten minutes. Be ready."
    I dropped the phone in my purse and raced to change out of my work clothes into a pair of jeans and a tank top, pulling my sneakers on quickly and grabbing a light jacket just in case. I stuffed a change of clothes into my bag and headed back out of my room.
    I opened the hall closet, pulling out a flashlight, checking the batteries, and then ran into the kitchen, searching under the sink for bug spray and then grabbing several bottled waters from the fridge.
    "What's going on, Lou?" Kelly asked, watching me dash around the house frantically, throwing things in my backpack.
    "Caroline, Carson's sister, is missing. They think she's been abducted. I'm going to do whatever I can to help him, even if it's nothing more than being there for moral support. I'll call as soon as I know anything."
    I heard the horn of Carson's truck and I quickly kissed Carly on the head before dashing to the door.
    "Don't worry about us. We'll be fine," Kelly assured me.
    With a nod in her direction I raced out to Carson's truck and he was backing out of the driveway before I even had the door closed behind myself.
    I tossed my bag on the floorboard and fastened my seatbelt before reaching over to grab his hand.
    "It's going to be okay, Carson.